A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews, I didn't expect so many! THANK YOU! Hopefully, I'll answer all the questions in the following chapters, one by one. This story is going to be built up slowly, in order for me to reveal the characters' motives properly and thoughtfully. Makorra will happen eventually, of course, but no sooner than Mako will sort out himself.

Two warnings, people. I don't really like very long chapters. Also, English isn't my first language, but I do enjoy it with all my heart, so hopefully this attempt in multi-chapter story will turn out to be, at least, decent.

Please, review!

First time Bolin turned on the radio was nothing but ordinary. Catching up with the latest news in Republic City was very Bolin-ish after all. He was anxious to find something thrilling outside their usual routine and Mako respected that, although, he didn't quite understand. Probably, because all these years he was trying to make his brother's life as calm and carefree as possible, probably, because his own life was anything but ordinary. Figures.

Keeping secrets from Bolin became essential in a way that only a loving sibling would understand. There was never a promise to look after each other, because that's how they lived their every day. There was never a word about their past.

Yet, sometimes it was all Mako could think about. Their past.

He would return home and Bolin would be there, head over heels about something exciting he heard on the radio. They would have dinner and Mako would smile slightly at his brother's enthusiasm. The outside world was still a big wonder for Bolin. Spirits, like they hadn't been living on the streets just a couple of years ago! Now, occupying one rather comfortable attic with a great view on the Yue Bay, brothers were as far from that past as possible. Now, Bolin's memory was allowed to be selective, or at least more selective than his brother's. Sometimes Mako wondered if that was just an incredibly strong optimism Bo posessed. Or was it all a game of make believe?

Anyway..

Good job, Mako.

But then, of course, it had to change.

"It has been a week since Avatar Korra disappeared from the Air Temple Island. Despite the high-profile campaign and a volunteer search involving more than a hundred local people over several days, there is still no information about her whereabouts. According to Chief Beifong…"

- Come on, Bo, why do you even bother with the radio news?

Younger brother made an impatient "shush" gesture and continued listening with grim attention on his face. Mako shrugged and turned away, continuing with the dish washing. There was nothing he could do about it, so he chose to ignore the sound of radio and focus on his thoughts instead. Of course there would be reports about the missing Avatar. It didn't disturb him, as long as everything went according to the leader's plans. As a matter of fact, Mako was to give his own report about the prisoner A. tonight. Fully prepared, he, however, felt slightly discouraged at the lack of progress in this particular mission. He had his reasons to be proud of some other achievements, mostly underground job, unseen by the authorities of the Republic City, yet valuable for their revolution. This latest mission, the most important one, however, was becoming a problem.

Avatar refused to eat and sleep. She refused to react. Nothing, even electrocution, could tear a single sound from her. Struggling silently, Avatar distanced herself from the pain, as if she was in another body, watching herself being tortured. Since the day Mako revealed his identity as an equalist, she made no attempt to speak to him, locking herself in another cage, inside the metal one she was held in. It was childish, pointless, stupid and Mako hated this. She was nothing to him. He revealed himself because he was told to. The effect his revelation caused was predictable, but irritating nonetheless. Moreover, Mako had to be the one guarding her. The one to bring her food and throw away untouched bowls, to electrocute her every now and then, to tell her some of their plans, planting the seed of despair that should grow bigger with every day. To break her.

Amon insisted on his involvement, so Mako obeyed. Being an equalist sure taught him subordination - the one thing street kid he once was knew nothing about. But even if he wondered why he was chosen for the mission (which he did not), it wasn't important, because everything would change soon, after the Revelation. Spirits, Mako was anticipating this event as eagerly as any of his comrades.. Two weeks from now.. That's when Amon said it'd happen.

"… Councilman Tarrlok released a statement saying that investigators had uncovered what they believed to be "genuinely new material". It could be possible that the Avatar was abducted by the mysterious anti-bending organization, "The Equalists…"

Mako's hand froze on the plate for a split second. They weren't supposed to figure it out yet, before Amon finished all the preparations for The Revelation. Still, nothing really troublesome. For years the equalists were successfully hidden in the shadows of Republic City, known only by name and purpose. There was no reason to worry about the police, and Mako remembered Leutenant's saying: Police would find out what we allow them to find out. So far so true. Mako couldn't help but smirk.

- Those bastards! – he heard Bolin's angry whisper.

Caught in the stillness of a thought (why he was so surprised? Bo was a bender after all), Mako blinked several times, before realizing he was being asked a question.

- What are they going to do with her? – Bolin repeated.

All Mako could do was to stare in his brother's eyes in disbelief. For a moment he was seriously questioning the possibility of Bolin suspecting the truth. Innocent enough, the question was somehow.. direct and demanding. Carefully putting off a plate, Mako thought over a few things to start with, but the slightest tension disappeared when Bolin exclaimed:

- Gah, I bet she gets herself free in no time. She's the Avatar! And those guys aren't even benders! Eek.. – shutting his mouth with both hands, Bolin looked at his elder brother with horrified expression of guilt in his face.

Mako sighed. Here we go again. Dealing with Bolin's guilt toward the word "bender" was the most irritating thing on a daily basis. Irritating and strangely endearing. Being a non-bender was always comfortable for Mako, even when their parents were alive, even though both of them were benders. Becoming an equalist added a new bitter angle to his opinion on bending. Or has it always been there on the back of his mind after that day?

Not now. Mom. Dad.

- Mako!

Tiny hands, holding onto his pocket.

- Ma-ko?

Get out of here, you're not supposed to follow me. Get out! He could be so rude sometimes..."Mako, please, be gentle with your little brother."

His throat was burning more with every step. That smell..

Little footsteps stubbornly followed him. That time Mako didn't hesitate to scare him away with a slap.

Alone. Finally alone. He could hear his brother's sobs, but he didn't care. Not now, when his own eyes were as dry as the desert, when his throat was painful from all the smoke.

"What have you done again? Why is your little brother crying?"

He didn't care, but he would always care.

- Ma..Mako..

Questioning green eyes, huge and filled with tears. Was he crying all this time? How much time did he spent out there?

Mako was barely standing on his feet, and he almost collapsed when his tiny brother hugged him clumsily.

Tired. He was so tired.

- Mako, you.. cry too!

He was.

That day..

Mako watched at his brother's tensed posture, his eyes, averted to the ground; and thought that it wasn't any easier for him. Sighing again, he grabbed another towel:

- Give me a hand with those dishes, would you?

Bolin eagerly jumped up with a big grin on his face, when Mako had thrown a towel into him and turned the radio off.